Whether it's unleaded, mid-grade or premium, as of late, you may actually have the nerve to fill up your tank. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of unleaded gas this week is $2.32, down from over $3 one year ago. In New Orleans, most unleaded fuel is more than 30 cents cheaper.

But like the pump, there are two sides to consider. The other is a cost some have no choice but to pay -- that's unemployment.

Chris John, president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association said the lower gas prices aren’t good for everyone.

"We've seen the ramifications of that. We've seen layoffs, including right here in the city of New Orleans where Shell has announced publicly that they're going to reduce their workforce globally by about 6,500 people. That will have some negative impact on One Shell Square, because that's where Shell houses its deep offshore unit," John said.

John said the energy business pumps around $73 billion into the state's economy. It also accounts for over 267,000 jobs indirectly and directly.

"It's not just about how little you pay at the gas pump," John said.

So we asked if there is a price point that could help maintain a balance between what the consumer wants and what the industry needs.

“That’s a very difficult number to peg,” John said. "But right now we're at $44 a barrel of oil. I think a medium is in the $60 to $80 dollar a barrel range, which would put it in the mid two-dollars a gallon. I think that's somewhat of a comfortable area."